Palestinian youth shot with live ammunition in critical condition

A crowd gathers on Tuesday during the funeral of Majd Lahlouh, 22, in the West Bank city of Jenin. Photo credit: Ali Samoudi

Ramallah, 21 August 2013–Israeli forces shot and seriously injured a Palestinian teen with live ammunition early Tuesday morning during a night raid on Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank.

The victim, identified as Karim Abu Sabeeh, 17, sustained a gunshot wound to his lower torso and remained in critical condition at Arab Specialist Hospital in Nablus, according to DCI-Palestine sources. The bullet struck Karim on his right side in the waist, causing damage to his right kidney, right lung, pancreas and large and small intestines. Karim underwent emergency surgery to remove his kidney and lung, and shrapnel from his chest, according to hospital sources.

“This shooting is tragic, yet all too predictable,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, Accountability Program director at DCI-Palestine. “Israeli forces operate with impunity which allows shootings like this to become a somewhat regular occurrence.”

Around 2:30 am, while Karim was on the roof of a house with two other youths, Israeli forces below on the street fired live ammunition toward them from a distance of 50-60 meters (165-195 feet), according to an eyewitness. The two other youths also sustained injuries, with one transferred to Al Maqasid hospital in Jerusalem. Majd Lahlouh, 22, was killed during the incursion, according to news sources.

Israeli officials said the shooting occurred as Israeli forces encountered and responded to violent protesters after they entered Jenin refugee camp to arrest a suspected member of Islamic Jihad, according to news sources.

At least 22 children have been shot and injured by live ammunition, rubber-coated metal bullets or tear-gas canisters since January 2013, according to evidence collected by DCI-Palestine. During the same period, two Palestinian teens have been killed by live ammunition.

In July 2013, Jihad Hamad, 14, was injured when two bullets struck him in the neck and right shoulder as he walked with friends near the main road in the West Bank town of Silwad. In June 2013, Mohammad Khader, 17, was shot in the chest with live ammunition and seriously injured when Israeli forces conducted a night raid on Qalandia refugee camp near Ramallah.

In May 2013, Atta Sabbah, 12, from Jalazoun refugee camp near Ramallah was shot by an Israeli soldier while trying to retrieve his school bag from another soldier nearby, according to DCI-Palestine documentation. The live bullet struck Atta in the stomach and exited through his back, severing his spinal cord and causing paralysis from the waist down.